Britain's prime minister Tony Blair said that he supported the access of Bulgarian and Romanian workers to the British labour market after the two countries' EU accession, The Independent newspaper reported.

Bulgaria and Romania are expected to join the EU in January 2007.

Recently a number of public figures in the UK expressed their concerns that Bulgarian and Romanian migrant workers would take away jobs from local workers.

Blair “made clear his determination to reject demands for a 'closed door' approach to the two nations”, The Independent said.

Still, some short-term measures could be introduced, probably a temporary system of work permits, Blair said.

Blair emphasised on the economic benefits of migrant workers. Migrant workers had boosted economic growth from 0.5 to one per cent a year, according to Blair.